I don’t really have the words to describe what a magical three days I have just experienced with Henriette on Dartmoor. On the train to Totnes I was feeling so anxious about the whole experience - would I fall apart just being with my own thoughts as we walked in silence? Would I be able to handle the wild camping? Would it just be too intense being with a bunch of strangers in the wilderness? 

All my fears quickly passed as we began our walk. I couldn’t have felt safer and more held by Henriette and nature itself. Over the next three days I felt more at peace with myself than I have done in years. I can’t thank you enough… it was truly an experience like no other and I can’t wait to do it again!

Anna, 32, London, civil servant

I want to offer you my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the beautiful weekend spent on Dartmoor. The experience that you share with your guests is so special and thoughtfully planned, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to participate. My expectations were high because of the beautiful writing and photos on your website, and they were exceeded in every way.

What you do - creating a safe and meaningful space for so many people to deepen their relationship to nature - is a gift to the world, and it's made possible by your own gifts as a person. Your ability to encourage the silence and space that people don't always give themselves is very powerful. From the way you carry yourself to the words of the poetry you choose to share, I was impressed and inspired by you. I look forward to buying the book(s) you will one day write! 

And of course, the places we visited were truly magical. Now that I've settled back into my daily life and had time to process the whirlwind of my trip, it's the quiet green moments of stone and moss and blossom that have stayed with me the most. It was a joy to experience so many plants and landscapes that have always been semi-mythical to me. In the oak and bluebell wood on the final day, a feeling came to me that seems crazy to put into writing, but is nonetheless true. I felt that I could happily die in that moment, if it meant getting to stay in that place forever and cycle through the soil. I have every desire to go on living and experiencing the world, but that feeling of deeply trusting and welcoming death was something new and wonderful for me. I get so discouraged about humanity's destruction of the webs of life, but the journey we went on reminded me of deeper time and greater power, and I was comforted.

Taryn, 28, Canada

What a wonderful, moving experience to be part of the Wandering Wild weekend in the beautiful, soft presence of you, Henriette, and of our fellow walkers. Three days of contrasts, balance and integration. We moved on a physical level – three days of walking and carrying heavy packs over sometimes difficult terrain. I was delighted to find I was capable of this level of exertion, despite some anxiety about that beforehand. The balance of walking and resting was perfect – no rushing, no chatter, no competition – just steady movement and then rest.

You held the group with such spaciousness and gentle love of the moor and of everything in it, including us. That holding, and the moor itself, nurtured movement within me, as well as actual movement. As the weekend progressed, I could see my possibilities more clearly than my limitations. My own nature started to take over and to silence my mind and my thoughts. I could almost hear my legs asking to walk, and my lungs asking to breathe. My whole being felt like it was thriving on doing what is in its nature. I began to feel that I was melting into the moor, in a sense, becoming part of it, coming home to my full self. I went to sleep in my little tent, with words in my head saying, ‘I am melting into the moor’. How blissful, this melting. How touching!

Thank you for all of it – for your knowledge, your leadership, your hard work and your organisation. Thank you for your love, your gentle presence and mostly, thank you for your love of the moor. I’ll be back – you won’t be able to keep this ‘natural born wandering wilder’ away!

Minty, London, Writer

The Wandering Wild weekend immersed me in the vast wilderness of Dartmoor and fully opened me to a deep connection with the unfathomable beauty of this ancient landscape. With great skill, Henriette guided the group through both the physical and metaphysical terrain and she gently helped me to surrender to the mystery and magic of the moor. It felt like coming home to myself. Having enjoyed decades of walking and hiking, I feel that a Wandering Wild weekend provides something very precious indeed. Henriette held the group with great expertise and although the weekend can be challenging, I always felt completely safe knowing she was with us. I left the moor with a deep sense of peace and renewal and I look forward to returning next year because I can’t imagine not having the healing power of this weekend in my life again. 

Matthew, teacher, London 

The quiet! Oh, the blissful, divine quiet, and from this quiet the voices of the moor began to speak - first the skylarks welcomed us, then the water, then the wind. The swish and crunch of the grasses against my boots and underfoot, the sound of my clothing, my breath. In relationship with this wild nature I came to speak a new (old) language and it brought me then, and has continued to bring me, a profound joy and comfort. A homecoming. 

I must give thanks to the women I walked with. To find friends in silence was new to me (as an enthusiastic talker) and beautiful. Each of the women seemed to me as an archetype: the poet, the guide, the comic, the witch (you know who you are!) and each gave their raw honesty and beauty. As I hold each of you by turn in my thoughts I can easily recollect how you felt to me in that place, and I feel very peaceful with that. What a pleasure it was. I feel changed by my walk. More independent. More confident in myself. More connected with the earth and sky and water. (I hadn’t really stopped to notice the relationship I had with the trees in my street back home, but since my return I feel we are friends and think of them more and inwardly chat with them as I pass by)! 

This was the first weekend away, to myself, since becoming a mother eight years ago and to find myself there and to find such joy in myself at this point in my life - what a gift!!!

Thank you Dartmoor, thank you Henriette (you beautiful soul), thank you fellow Wild Wanderers.

Mandy, Yoga teacher, London

I’m writing to thank you for a wonderful three days on the moor. I learnt so much from the spaces opened up by the rhythms of silence and conversation, movement and stillness, and isolation and togetherness that you instilled in the weekend. Amidst all the fine lines you walk as a guide, I particularly appreciated the balance you struck between absolute sincerity and lightness of touch - it left room for the experience to unfold for each of us. I loved experiencing the moor, and I suppose that big world beyond the self more generally, in new ways - it’s a such a beautiful, compelling place. I imagine you get a lot of this, but it really did feel transformational - I’m so interested to see what sticks in the coming days and weeks. It was a fun weekend, too - thanks.

Daniel, Associate Professor, Nottingham

What a wonderful weekend that was. A few weeks later, it’s still in my consciousness and the journey started on the wild moors has continued in so many ways.

Things I remember from the weekend: lacing my boots for the day and how special that first coffee tastes in the mornings when you’re outside. The walking - pushing my body a bit more than I thought I was comfortable with and realising that it felt really powerful and strong! I found myself actually looking forward to the more challenging routes.

Henriette’s pacing worked so well, skilfully incorporating the different landscapes and types of walking - uphill, downhill, crossing or resting by water, taking us from wild moorland to rocky edge to pine forest to waterfall – so much variety!

One particular long steep hillside climb took us up and along what felt like an ancient track with a view over the moorlands that many people and cattle must have trodden over not just years but centuries. Walking silently without words to explain its history, we understood the landscape with our other senses. The pacing of walks, rests and meal breaks were perfectly pitched so thatwhatever came next always seemed welcome.

Just as powerful as the walking was when we took time to sit in a chosen spot and just observe. If you can just sit still enough (and how often do we do that in our busy lives these days?) and be open to what is around you with full attention, it’s amazing how much is there. It was truly magical to watch the landscape change and new things gradually become visible, like a present unwrapping before your eyes. There was so much to take in, I could hardly tear myself away.

I have continued to do this at home, even just sitting in the garden. I could say so much more, but what’s really important is that something about being with the landscape in such a conscious way – both moving through it and inhabiting it for a few days –opened up a space of possibility that I had longed for but didn’t know how to reach. Walking in nature has always been my “blow away the cobwebs” fix, but this went so much deeper. Several weeks on, and back in the city with a ton of to-do’s and unexpected issues to deal with, I am much more calm and trusting; I am making decisions in a different way, believing that my body knows what to do, and the mind will follow.

Melanie, Sheffield, creative multi-tasker, 62

The Wandering Wild trip with Henriette was such a therapeutic and unique experience.

I had high expectations after finding and following Henriette about a year ago. I’d been in touch with her to book the trip a few times, and for various reasons the date of my trip moved around, Henriette was so accommodating and helpful over the months so that by the time I could go on the trip it was like meeting an old friend, she is so warm and welcoming. 

The trip on the surface level is simple. You meet at the train station, get your bags and walk in silence. 

The trip that you experience in your bones is an extremely important one and one that will stay with me for a very long time. 

My unfolding during the 3 days was profound, the opportunity to get in touch with yourself is unparalleled.  

Henriette holds space in such a wonderful way, allowing you to do it your way, to stumble a little and grow in your confidence and subsequently consciousness. 

I can’t recommend this trip enough, this is not simply camping, or hiking, It’s a chance at remembering, at seeking, at coming home.

Nicola, London, Advertising, 37.

Until my Wandering Wild experience, I thought I was three parts extrovert, one part forced-quiet human and thrived on conversation and buzz.  It turns out that peace and the silent support of walking in company is just as nourishing if not more valuable, to me.   Moreover, that three days spent on Dartmoor taught me that you can converse with nature and experience the buzz of all it has to offer, which is just as energising as human interaction.

Henriette has put together a beautiful three-day experience.  You walk and wander quietly, free to listen, see, feel and move with the Dartmoor landscape around you.  Supported by Henriette’s amazing experience and understanding of the moor and hillwalking; her profound ability to inclusively guide you through the meditative/reflective moments that make for a truly magical and uplifting experience.  You’re also provided with everything to be fed, watered and sheltered freely, independently and comfortably. Camping out on the moor, filtering your own water and in my case, digging your own loo, doesn’t get more satisfying and wild!   

I was touched by the unspoken support of my fellow wanderers and there is something about the encouraged quiet during the walking which brings about an immediate, unspoken connection between the group, even though we met as strangers.  I think this is because we came with an understanding that although our paths that weekend are shared, our journeys to get there and beyond, are respectfully very different. I learned there is nothing like silent solitude in company to become more open minded and caring to other people without knowing very much about them.  

I also learned I’m quite happy to plunge into a ginormous, cold deep and dark lake without hesitation, thanks to one very supportive and knowing glance! There’s something about silence where you just get on with life without over analysing  - and having swum many a lake, sea and river, this was by far the best and most ethereal wild swimming – because it was quiet – no point in being intrepid or nervous!

 I won’t ever forget any of the women I met that weekend; the food, laughter and experiences  - both emotional and physical that we shared.  Wandering Wild is truly a unique, inclusive and nourishing experience for anyone – you will leave refreshed, reflective and with an appreciation for nature that is quite profound.  

Jo, Communications, London, 38

I was longing to reintroduce myself to the wild and to unwind after a very busy period of work.I always long for Dartmoor’s wonderful landscapes, where I personally find at ease to tap into a greater sense of beauty.I flew all the way from Lisbon - my hometown - to Devon - a place where I feel at Home.

I found it quite reassuring and useful to be supplied with the essential kit / the gear for this adventure. I wasn't aware of the fact that we'd be walking in silence. Perhaps I skimmed it and not only until I arrived on the moor I embraced this fundamental aspect to the experience. It was a marvelous surprise actually! To walk in silence really creates a deeper communication with the natural world and with oneself. It allows a wider and sharper sensory perception of - and connection to - the surroundings.

I felt truly safe with Henriette's knowledgeable guidance. From the neat and beautifully organized backpacking (where every aspect had been thought of) to the gorgeous food (responding to dietary requests) to the prompts for contemplation or sharing moments along, all details were taken care of very gently. I appreciated that so much! I suppose it all contributed to my experience of wholeness, healing and renewal.

Up until now a month later, what had the greatest impact on me was the aliveness and spaciousness of the landscapes, the nurturing quality of the wild animals we encountered, the soft togetherness with the small group and the interactions with the water.

Maybe it was the intimacy with the soggy ground, the rain, wild swimming in the lake, and above all, the presence of the river - walking along or against the stream, crossing it, filtering its water to drink...bathing my bare feet in it. I still recall it every morning, the freshness of that water and its mysterious wisdom keeps unfolding in my heart.

Thank you for everything, Henriette!

Telma, events manager, Lisbon

With immense sensitivity and authenticity, Henriette has created a journey that opens you up not only to the landscape around you but to the inner nature within yourself. Three days of hiking across the land of Dartmoor, mostly in silence, makes for an intimately mindful adventure where you become one with subtlest of sensations. You notice the world unfold in front of you and minute by minute you become one with it.

We camped in stunning "locations” away from anyone. Swam in a lake, drank water from a stream that lead us across the moor. We shared our experiences, cried, laughed and I craved my hipster espresso more than anything. Three days and we developed our inner rhythm, intimacy and even inner jokes, that only those who co exist in silence can understand. Five incredible women, strangers at first, deeply connected by the end of it.. If you need some time away, time to come back to yourself allow Henriette to lead you there.. Thank you Henriette..

Ashka, yoga teacher, London, 42.

From the beginning all the way to the end of our wandering around Dartmoor, there was a feeling of safety and trust. I wonder if that was the softness of the ground, the gentle texture of the fern, the rolling hills reflecting the clouds, as they were moved swiftly by the winds. Or perhaps that was the sense of safety that Henriette was able to provide with her presence and guidance all the way through the journey. It all felt organic and easy, as well as carefully planned and all the practical aspects taken into account to have the most comfortable and enjoyable experience. Our backpacks were filled with all the essentials, like the food, which was really tasty and perfectly arranged for hiking and camping. Every day was filled with different experiences, landscapes, ranging from barren hills, fern covered off-beaten tracks, ancient stones covering the land igniting curious mythological quest and the fairy tale forests.

I've learned a lot of practical tips for camping and hiking too, like how to filter water from the river. Wild swimming in misty rain was probably the highlight that will remain in memory for a long time.

Ieva, London, researcher/creative, 34.

I treated myself to a Wandering Wild Weekend with Henriette, as I wanted to mark the end of my breast cancer treatment as well as my 50th birthday ( which had occurred a day apart).

I loved the meditative aspect of the experience and the amazing scenery we walked through. I feel completely restored and renewed . Thanks again for everything Henriette it has been perfect. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone who is interested.

Diana Patel ( SEN Teacher, West Sussex)

My brother and I wanted to do something together - something adventurous, something wild, something soothing and something intentional. And so, we decided to sign up to a Wandering Wild experience together.

You couldn’t wish for a better person to walk the moors with than Henriette. She not only guided us safely through the many different terrains of the moor, the backpack was well stacked with essentials and tasty, wholesome food. This walk didn’t feel like a coordinated, forced group activity at all. From the beginning, you could feel that you’re walking with fellow humans rather than strangers. This and other aspects are all made possible because of the space that Henriette opens and holds for everyone coming to Dartmoor.

The walk was challenging at times, with the summer sun etc. but there was just space for everyone to be who they were. That was beautiful. We’ve been back a day now, and I can still feel the moor within me, it will take some more time to let it sink in and let it rise again. So, if you’re thinking of getting a little out of your comfort zone, out of the concrete jungle and into the wild, sign up, it’s so worth it!

Ariane, London

I joined this journey with the intention of increasing my confidence to go camping and hiking on my own, as my previous experience of ‘getting into the wilds’ in the UK has mostly been only day trips away from the city, and I’ve definitely been bit nervous about the idea of sleeping out alone. I hoped to get more of a sense of connection with some of the wild landscapes of this country I live in, and as a consequence be braver and bolder to go exploring.

What came out of the three days was so much more than I could have imagined. Henriette guides with warmth and humour balancing friendliness with professionalism and a relaxed air that puts everyone immediately at ease; we were a bunch of strangers who quickly established connection supported by the silence and the simple mindfulness activities which provided structure and heightened our openness and attentiveness. Henriette provides everything that a newcomer might need to fully immerse in the experience, and I was surprised how quickly I left the city-world behind me and became fully present in a surprising intimacy with the natural world. It was a depth of home-coming I really wasn’t expecting, one that shifted my perspective profoundly to being in a deeper relationship with this land called Home. It sparked my creative imagination too! Plenty of silence. Plenty of laughs. New friends made. Highly recommend.

 Lindsay, 43,  Ulex Project, European Partnership Development / Educator / Project Manager

Wandering Wild is a truly magical experience! If you are looking to deeply reconnect with your natural self and the natural rhythms of life, I can’t recommend Wandering Wild highly enough.Spending three days walking through the wild landscape, carrying all our provisions, camping out wild and drinking from streams felt so nourishing, strengthening and relaxing. As the journey progressed I felt more and more at home as we were bathed by the sights, sounds, smells and sensations of nature’s splendour. Wandering Wild is nothing like any other outdoor experience I have had before. In fact I would hesitate to call it an experience as really it felt like a homecoming of sorts.

Henriette guides the group beautifully both with different contemplations and the way she supports each member of the group with getting used to being in the wild and setting up camp. Rather than being a typical nature guide naming things, Henriette guided us to listen and let nature speak for itself. Being in nature this way I felt so much love, respect and gratitude for the support that the natural world gives us. And how little we really need. The simplicity of walking on the earth, breathing in fresh air, drinking pure water, and being with fellow wanderers was completely enlivening. I feel like I have been given a key to the not so secret garden! Thank you nature, thank you Henriette and friends!

Alice, Oxford, Carer/Bodyworker

"Although I know the moor quite well, this walk started in territory I had not explored before and it was truly beautiful from the outset. Henriette had planned an outstanding journey which took in both the sublime lines and colours of the deep moor as well as far reaching views, rocky tors, meandering waterways and a particularly outstanding stone row and circle. To arrive there as the sun set and the moon rose was to be taken into a sense of timelessness and ceremony.

 Walking in silence allowed the profound silence of the moor to penetrate me, and the exercises offered by Henriette both fostered a deeper connection to the land as well as speaking to the possibilities for insight and even an altogether different way of knowing that being in the wild can offer. 

Henriette was clearly capable and skilled and her planning meticulous. Having spent so much time in the wild, she embodied the way that it's possible to drop into the silence and majesty of our surroundings.  I felt very taken care of by her attention to detail, and her holding of the journey helped to establish a sense of safety and connection.  I would recommend this to anybody who not just wants to experience the wildness and beauty of Dartmoor but who wants to be deeply touched by it, perhaps in unexpected ways. "

Rachel, Project Developer, Devon. Aged 41. 

Wandering wild is a magical endeavour into the heart of the Dartmoor landscape. Expect to drop all your mental baggage, and find yourself meditatively breathing in the healing power of the immense landscape. You’ll be provided for with pretty much everything, from wonderful guidance, delicious food, heart warming company, water from Dartmoor’s spring clean streams, as well as the essential equipment needed! You couldn’t have a better, more supportive, and thoughtful mentor than Henriette, who holds the group so well, as well as provides the most delicious food. 

Henry, 24, support worker, southend-on-sea

Henriette allowed us to flow with our own experience and to connect genuinely to the land, I felt at home, the landscape and nature felt like being held and had a warmth, despite the cold at night.The space and silence meant I could meet myself over and over. hearing with my own living awareness, touching with my own living curiosity and feeling with my open heart.This was a time of remembering of the beauty of our own place here - as visitors and creators in a space alive with itself. My true nature seen in the beauty and nature all around.I felt the grace of life and the power of nature, a remembrance of the gift and poetry of this time we have here.Thank you so so much! 

Mark, 39, mindfulness teacher, kirtan leader, London

'I cannot express enough what a heart opening experience my 3 days spent wandering wild in Dartmoor has been. Time spent with a group of truly lovely human beings and led by Henriette, her love and care for Planet Earth is so clear and authentic. I loved very much how I was left space to be with my own personal experience during our walks, allowing me to feel so deeply a connection with Mother Earth, Henriette was there to gently guide us along the way holding a really pure space.  Thank you so much Henriette and the group of beautiful humans I spent my time with for an incredible journey.' 

Elli, 22, barista at vegetarian cafe, London.